Entrepreneurship : Innovation + Job News

Baltimore-based Integrated Systems Research (ISR) Corporation recently announced the integration of its core technology with Garmin personal navigation devices. The integration adds dispatch and in-vehicle navigation capabilities to the ISR FleetTrack mobile resource management platform. QuickRoute, is integrated solution combines Garmin portable navigation devices with ISR's Silent Position Monitor (SPM) series of in-vehicle tracking hardware. 

The technology platform allows easy dispatching of job assignments directly to a driver's Garmin device. Drivers receive a single message containing detailed job assignments, and turn-by-turn directions, with voice prompts. Using QuickRoute, dispatchers can communicate directly with Garmin units in the field to find out what time a vehicle is projected to arrive at its assigned destination. The system also automatically sends dispatchers a confirmation message once a vehicle reaches an assigned job site.

QuickRoute enables fleet owners, managers and dispatchers to send job assignments to, communicate with, and monitor the activities of individual vehicles or the company's entire fleet. Incorporating Garmin's in-vehicle navigation and two-way text messaging capabilities with ISR FleetTrack should significantly increase the productivity and safety of companies using the QuickRoute solution.

"Garmin is at the leading edge of what they do, so we are excited to partner with them on this," says Yukie Novick, Integrated Systems Research Corporation's CEO. "The integrated solution gives our customers a powerful, easy-to-use, yet affordable way to dispatch job assignments and stay in touch with their drivers throughout the day. It's something our customers were asking for. We listened, and QuickRoute is the result."

Source: Integrated System Research Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

There's a new supermarket coming to Anne Arundel County. ShopRite, a full-service supermarket, has signed a lease for an 85,000 square foot store in the Chesapeake Square Shopping Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland. ShopRite will open in mid-Fall, 2010 in the former K-Mart, creating 200 new jobs.

The ShopRite of Glen Burnie will be operated by Collins Family Markets. This will be the fourth ShopRite for the family-owned business helmed by Larry Collins, Sr., which currently owns and operates three of the supermarkets in Pennsylvania.

The Chesapeake Square supermarket will be the eighth ShopRite in Maryland and the first to service Anne Arundel County. There are more than 200 ShopRite stores located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

The new ShopRite will undergo a complete renovation, including construction, fixtures, a new fa�ade, and merchandizing. The rehab should create jobs in the local construction industry as well.

In addition to a broad array of groceries and fresh produce, the ShopRite of Glen Burnie will include a fresh bake shop, a full-service butcher, fresh seafood, a full-service floral department, a wide variety of gourmet cheeses, as well as a broad selection of natural and organic products. A full-service catering and prepared foods department will also be on-site, as well as a fresh-made sushi bar. The store will also offer ShopRite From Home^® online shopping service.

KLNB Retail, which has been working with ShopRite over the past two years to identify opportunities throughout the Maryland region, specifically targeted Chesapeake Square Shopping Center for its inaugural Anne Arundel County location.

"The demographic profile of consumers surrounding Chesapeake Square represents the ideal shopping audience for ShopRite and our research indicates that the grocery store segment is under-served in the Glen Burnie sub-market," states Michael Patz, Principal of KLNB Retail, "ShopRite has historically been extremely successful in capturing market share quickly when entering new areas, and we are confident that their unique combination of merchandising, attractive price points and product selection will be embraced in Anne Arundel County."

Source: The Fedder Company
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore beer lovers had an extra reason to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend following the launch of the canned version of Resurrection from local celebrity bar Brewer's Art.

As they paid homage to the troops who've given their lives fighting our nation's wars, while simultaneously kicking off the unofficial start of summer, those who love Brewer's Art beers cold heft a cold one in the comfort of the own home.

The newly canned Resurrection joins Brewer's line of bottled beers available at about 100 liquor stores in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County and Howard County, says Tom Creegan, co-owner.

"Resurrection is far and away our biggest seller. It was a way to get it out in an easier format," he says, adding that there aren't any current plans to offer additional varieties of its beers in cans.

It took about two years to adjust the recipe and produce the best beer for bottling and now canning. "We do it here and have what we like here, but doing it at a different brewery it takes a little while to get it where you want it. It's a learning curve, working at a different facility on different equipment. You don't just add four times as much stuff," Creegan explains.

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), celebrated the funding of its 200th company. American Dynamics Flight Systems (ADFS) in Jessup, Md., which received $75,000 from TEDCO's NAVAIR Technology Insertion (NAVTI) program was lucky No. 200.  Over the course of TEDCO's 12-year history, the organization has provided more than $8.5 million in funding to Maryland businesses through its signature Maryland Technology Transfer and Commercialization Fund (MTTCF), which makes up over 75 percent of TEDCO's portfolio.

"TEDCO's has done an outstanding job in making Maryland one of the premier locations for technology-based economic development, bringing high-skilled, high-paying jobs to Maryland," says Senator Benjamin L. Cardin. "Today, I join TEDCO as it features its 10 most innovative companies and celebrates the funding of its 200^th company, American Dynamic Flight Systems. TEDCO understands the importance of nurturing high-tech companies with the capital they need to succeed so that we can ensure good paying jobs for Marylanders."

TEDCO is independent entity, was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1998 to facilitate the creation of businesses and foster their growth in all regions of the State. TEDCO's role is to be Maryland's leading source of funding for seed capital and entrepreneurial business assistance for the development, transfer and commercialization of technology.

TEDCO connects emerging technology companies with federal laboratories, research universities, business incubators and specialized technical assistance. For the fifth consecutive year, TEDCO was recognized as the most active seed/early-stage investor in the nation in the August 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine and received the national Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development award from the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) for the Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF) program in October 2008.

"I congratulate TEDCO on this important and significant milestone," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "TEDCO is a valuable resource which attracts companies to our state and sustains our reputation as a national leader in technology development. We are fortunate to have TEDCO in our backyard and I thank the organization for its role in moving Maryland forward."

 ADFS develops Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including its next generation AD-150 which is a maritime aircraft system capable of vertical take-off and landing, and high speed flight. As a result of TEDCO's funding and support, the company is currently working with NAVAIR and the Patuxent Partnership to assess the viability of its technologies with the U.S. Navy.

Since its inception TEDCO has provided funds for an array of the state's  most innovative companies including Fyodor Biotechnologies, which is developing novel technologies to improve the management of malaria, including a malaria test kit; HeMemics Biotechnologies, Inc., which developed a technology to dehydrate biologics (proteins, cells, etc.) in dried or partially dried format; Spiralcat, which developed a technology that recovers water, energy and third-generation biofuels using harvesting systems; and Oculis Labs, which developed a computer security technology that protects computer screens against eavesdropping.

""It's an honor to be the recipient of TEDCO's 200^th funding award," says Wayne Morse, president of ADFS. "TEDCO provides access to exclusive partnerships and resources which are hard to come by. Through this funding, we were able to advance our technology and gain a greater presence in the marketplace, which helped bring ADFS to the next level."

Source: The Maryland Technology Development Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Maryland Biotechnology Center, the State of Maryland's portal to programs and resources intended to grow and strengthen the state's bioscience community, has awarded $270,000 through the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program to six biotechnology companies to their product development projects .

MIPS teams Maryland companies with faculty from the University System of Maryland to help the companies develop high technology, biotechnology, or technology-related agricultural products. Companies provide matching funds to help pay for the projects. All funding goes to participating faculty.

The Center recently signed off on initial funding for three projects. Each was in the second year of a two-year (phase 2) project. Three additional first-year projects were also made possible by freeing up MIPS funds to support them.

"As Maryland's resource center for growing and strengthening the state's bioscience community, one of the Maryland Biotechnology Center's charters outlined by Governor Martin O'Malley in his 2009 BioMaryland 2020 strategic plan is to provide funding to assist companies with late-stage commercialization objectives," says Judy Britz, the Center's executive director. "MIPS has a proven process for evaluating viable research projects and a strong history of successfully helping biotechnology companies develop commercial products, so by supporting MIPS, we are fulfilling part of our charter and are boosting key contributors to the growth of the state's bioscience cluster."

The phase 2 projects that the Center will directly support include Rockville-based Aparna Biosciences Corporation that has teamed with A. James Mixson, associate professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore to develop therapeutics to treat a variety of fungal infections; Encore Path Inc., based in Baltimore has, and Appa Anjanappa, professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, who are developing a new rehabilitative TREADTRAC Device to enable stroke patients to regain walking skills; and another Rockville-based company, VectorLogics Inc. and Vikram Vakharia, professor, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, who are working on a treatment for the hepatitis C virus that uses viral vectors to deliver therapeutic proteins.

MIPS was able to support three additional projects thanks to the Center funding, including, Rockville-based Celek Pharmaceuticals LLC and Susan Keay, professor, University of Baltimore, to evaluate the efficacy of a novel therapeutic for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, a chronic and debilitating bladder disorder; Cellphire Inc., also in Rockville that has teamed with the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute MDBioproSM (GMP Biomanufacturing Program) to establish a quality system and manufacturing processes for the current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) production of the company's freeze-dried platelet products for both diagnostic and therapeutic indications; and College Park's Zymetis Inc. that is working with Robert M. Briber, professor, University of Maryland, College Park, in the development of low-cost solvent systems to reduce the crystallinity of native cellulose, reducing the need for enzymes in biomass digestion for the production of ethanol and other biofuels.

"MIPS has helped three of the most successful biotechnology companies in Maryland�MedImmune [part of AstraZeneca], Martek Biosciences, and Digene Corporation [now part of Qiagen]�develop products," says MIPS director Martha Connolly. "These companies have generated thousands of jobs, brought in millions in revenue and contributed tax dollars to the economy. The Maryland Biotechnology Center funding allows us to bolster what could be the leading biotechnology companies of tomorrow."

The Maryland Biotechnology Center contract with MIPS is for one year.

Source: The Maryland Biotechnology Center
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore-based Fastspot, an interactive design agency, has been nominated for two Best School/University Websites in the 14th Annual Webby Awards. The firm garnered the noms for their work on the Bucknell University Virtual Tour and the University of Puget Sound's website. And since each category includes just five finalists, Fastspot now has a two out of five chance to take home the Webby for the School/University category.

Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile websites. Fastspot is a former Webby honoree and winner. This year, Fastspot Creative Director, Tracey Halvorsen, also participated as a judge for the Awards.

"As a past Webby winner, we recognize the level of competition that occurs in this particular awards program, and what an honor it is to be recognized," says Halvorsen. "It is truly the highest compliment to an interactive agency to have your work make it to the finals in the Webbys. We are beyond thrilled to have two nominations in the same category this year, a very unique distinction."

As a nominee, Fastspot is also eligible to win a Webby People's Voice Award that is decided by votes from the global Web community, meaning anyone cast a vote for Fastspot. Voting has already started and will continute through April 29.  People's Voice and Webby Award winners will be honored at the 14th Annual Webby Awards in New York City on June 14, 2010.

Source: Stacy Spakowsky
Writer: Walaika Haskins

While area tech companies aim to score big with an iPad app in Apple's App Store, electronics accessory maker M-Edge is taking a different tack with a line

M-Edge Accessories, has launched a suite of accessories designed specifically for Apple's iPad. Designed to bring protection, innovation, and personalization to the iPad experience, M-Edge's offerings will allow users the freedom to take their device into any environment, from the office to the subway to the beach.

"With the iPad, Apple is putting forth a compelling eReading platform, and we are excited to broaden our focus and develop accessories that will enhance the iPad experience," commented Patrick Mish, CEO at M-Edge Accessories. "Our laser-focus on eReader devices the past four years has offered M-Edge valuable customer insights and allowed us to achieve numerous product successes. I am confident that with this experience under our belt, we are positioned to bring fresh, novel, and industry-leading accessories to the iPad market."

In addition to it's line of protective slevves, M-Edge also offers its FlexStand bookstand for iPad users. The innovative bookstand is compact and portable, and uses flexible legs and adjustable feet to provide an adaptable, hands-free user experience.

M-Edge's Professional Line of iPad jackets is designed for those looking for classic and stylish protection that is suitable for work environments. Available in up to 12 leather colors, the jackets in this comprehensive line are among M-Edge's bestsellers.

 

Source: Patrick Mish, M-Edge Accessories
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Storyfarm New Media, a Baltimore-based video production company, has launched a new all video professional services directory. A long-time dream for partners John Sherman, John Brosman and Beau Kershaw, the service is intended to provide people a way to find a real estate agent, doctor or lawyer that goes beyond just picking them from a static list.

"We started out looking at About Us pages and doctors and real estate agents listings -- just text and a picture -- and thought this isn't really doing anything all. You don't get to know anything about the people, and thought how great it would be if you had a really nice video that would be sort of a personal introduction that would give you all the intangibles you get when you're meeting somebody. If we make a really good video for a website, then why not make a second distribution point for it, collect all the videos together," says Sherman.

Storyfarm's first directory, MeetLocalAgents.com, launched with about 30 local real estate agents. Two other directories, MeetLocalDoctors.com and MeetLocalLawyers.com, are also up but have limited listings. Users can search the directories by area or several other criteria.

"There's really no way to quantify the success of a doctor, lawyer or real estate agent. It's all about personality, especially for doctors. I think it's crazy how we pick our doctors. Are they close to me? Do they take my insurance? Okay, you're my doctor. What we're really doing is empowering consumers to make better choices," says Sherman.

Cheaper than a commercial, the service is available for a monthly subscription fee of $59, $99, $149, and $199 for 30, 60, 90 or 120 second video, respectively. There are no upfront video production costs and the service is available for an inital 30-day trial.

Source: John Sherman, Storyfarm New Media
Writer: Walaika Haskins

It was a good night, a very good night last Wednesday when Fastspot, a Baltimore-based interactive design firm, learned Jumbalaya, a word game designed for Apple's new iPad device, would be one of about a thousand apps available for the iPad's launch on Saturday, April 3.

"There's a big advantage to being in at the ground level on something like this. The marketplace will get more and more flooded over time and we think it will be a pretty revolutionary device and we wanted to have something for it when it came out," says Tracey Halverson, Fastspot's creative director and principal.

Available on Apple's App site, Jumbalaya is a word scramble game that takes advantage of the iPad's multi-touch technology. "You can really use all your fingers to move the Scrabble-like blocks around to create as many words as you can," Halverson says.

The game offers players two distinct gameplay modes -- Survival and Quick Play. Survival pits players against the clock, making words to stay alive. In Quick Play gamers are challenged to get as many points as as possible in two minutes. Players can choose between three -- Wood, Earth and Ice.

It took the design team at Fastspot about one month to create the game, submit it and get accepted by Apple. The big challenge was creating the game on a simulator because the iPad was not available until last Saturday. "We have experience developing for the iPhone, so our lead developer was able to tap into that experience. Apple has been very good about providing feedback on the app along the way, so we just followed their deadline," Halverson explains.

Now that the team has experience designing for the iPad, Halverson hopes that they will be able to use that to create iPad apps for Fastspot's clients.

"I think this device will really become quite popular and we want to do more of it for our clients as well. So it was really great to dive in and get our feet wet," says Halverson.

Source: Tracey Halverson, Fastspot
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, and Maryland Clean Energy Center Executive Director Kathy Magruder officially opened Maryland's first Clean Energy Technology Incubator (CETI) at UMBC.

" By growing our own companies, we'll add new green jobs to our economy, while supporting the discovery of new technologies that will further our commitment to a sustainable environment," said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith

The Clean Energy Technology Incubator at UMBC is the first in a statewide network of clean energy incubators. It promotes entrepreneurship and job creation in industries that will impact the use of alternative energy sources in areas of interest including renewable energy, biofuels, smart grid technologies, electric vehicles, cybersecurity, and energy policy. Baltimore County is providing a $75,000 grant over two years through its Department of Economic Development to partially fund an Entrepreneur in Residence at the incubator.

Six companies were announced as the first tenants in the incubator, which is located in the Biotech Building on UMBC's South Campus. The incubator contains approximately 18,000 square feet of combined office and wet laboratory space.

Clean Green Chesapeake, LLC which focuses on using algae to simultaneously generate clean water, sequestration of CO2 and biofuels.

Plant Sensory Systems, LLC that develops technologies to improve crop performance, alleviate negative environmental impact, and increase levels of sugar, oil, and cellulose in plants so they can convert into biofuels.

Amethyst Technologies, LLC that consults on FDA guidelines and regulations and offers "green" services for design and creation of environmentally sustainable solutions.

COLUMBIA Technologies, LLC that provides 3D maps of underground pollution to lower the cost and risk of real estate redevelopment and contaminated site cleanup. The same software can be used in energy efficiency applications.

Amidus, LLC that works with clients to help them formulate and realize their strategies in the energy market.

UMBC Training Centers Offers high quality training and certification to individuals and organizations in the Baltimore region, including courses on CyberSecurity for the electric grid.Maryland Clean Energy Center Technology Incubator Network Opens First Site at bwtech@UMBC*

The Maryland Clean Energy Center has partnered with bwtech@UMBC to support early stage companies working with clean energy technologies and advance green job creation in our state.

"The Maryland Clean Energy Center is striving to partner with energy experts throughout the state in order to fulfill its mission of growing Maryland's clean energy economy through related economic development and job creation. Because bwtech@UMBC has a proven track record of success our Board elected to work with their team to establish our first Clean Energy Incubator Network site at UMBC," Katherine Magruder, executive director of MCEC says.

According to Magruder, "The intention is to draw from the depth and variety of the research presence in the state, and use the incubator network to move discoveries from the bench to the bank in the commercialization pipeline." She added, "The program seeks to provide affordable space as well as assistance with business plans, marketing, and management of intellectual property for start-up companies that are focused on a clean or renewable energy product, service or technology."

CETI is a natural fit with UMBC's strengths in environmental sciences and bwtech@UMBC's interest in and support of environmental science companies. bwtech@UMBC already hosts the headquarters of the U.S.

"bwtech@UMBC is delighted to establish this groundbreaking incubator," says Ellen Hemmerly, executive director of the bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park. "Maryland is positioned to become a leader in bioscience and environmental technologies, and we are excited to be a part of it."

Initial funding for the CETI will be provided by MCEC, bwtech@UMBC, and a grant from the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development to support the Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

"bwtech@UMBC has been a leader in nurturing entrepreneurship, fostering new ideas and generating jobs in Baltimore County for nearly two decades," says David S. Iannucci, executive director of Baltimore County Economic Development. "The Clean Energy Technology Incubator will increase its economic impact on the region."

In the long term MCEC is hoping to replicate this model in partnership with other jurisdictions and their economic development agencies.

Source: Baltimore County
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Maryland-based E-Structors, a company specializing in the secure destruction and recycling of computers, electronics and documents,  has achieved Responsible Recycling (R2) and ISO 14001:2004 certifications. Earning these certifications places E-Structors among the first electronics recyclers in the country � and the first in the Mid-Atlantic region � to be recognized for maintaining the highest environmental standards for processing and recycling electronic waste.

Introduced in 2009 and endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Electronics Recyclers establish how electronic waste should best be safely handled, responsibly re-used and legally exported. As an R2-certified recycler, E-Structors can guarantee that it maintains a state-of-the-art environmental management system (EMS) that soundly controls and regulates the entire "downstream" of the 18-20 million pounds of material it processes annually.

"Achieving our R2 and ISO 14001:2004 certification is a major accomplishment that solidifies E-Structors as a world-class company in our industry," says Mike Keough, president, E-Structors. "Our clients now have assurance that E-Structors is committed to maintaining the integrity of our recycling practices and the safety of our workers as we provide the highest level of environmental compliance and data security."

ISO 14001:2004 is a globally-accepted set of requirements for environmental management systems established by the International Organizations for Standardization (ISO). To achieve certification, E-Structors worked with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and University of Maryland Manufacturing Assistance Program to implement an EMS that effectively controls its environmental impact and continually improves its environmental performance by achieving certain objectives, such as reducing the company's energy consumption and waste production.

"Businesses today have come to realize that they need to go beyond basic regulatory compliance to take advantage of the cost saving opportunities, liability prevention and customer benefits that come with a more proactive approach to environmental management," says Laura Armstrong, pollution prevention and sustainability coordinator, MDE. "Environmental management systems offer a way to instill this approach by building capability among staff and establishing procedures that ensure continuous improvement in managing and reducing environmental impacts."

Once its new EMS was put into effect, E-Structors underwent a rigorous audit by an accredited third party to earn its ISO 14001:2004 registration. Curt Bluefeld was the program manager who worked closely with E-Structors throughout the development of its EMS.

"E-Structors' implementation and subsequent ISO 14001:2004 registration of its environmental management system reflects the highly-professional attitude and thoroughness evident throughout the company's operation," he said. "The staff was a pure joy to work with I suspect the E-Structors EMS will become the standard all other electronics recyclers will want to meet."

Source: E-Structors
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Abel Communications has added two new clients to its roster, Force 3 and GoBeyondIT. The company will provide Force 3 and GoBeyondIT with strategic communications services, including message development, copy writing, media relations, and social media strategy and implementation.


Force 3, based in Crofton, Md.,offers technology solutions to government agencies and partners. Services include security, data center and unified communications and collaboration and has grown to include 300 employees. Founded in 1991, the company has been recognized as one of Cisco's top 5 Federal Gold Partners and recently opened a new office in Herndon, Va. to support its growing government business.


GoBeyond IT, an innovative IT provider for the small and medium business market, specializing in hosted desktop services, enables its clients to quickly deploy desktops and applications without the associated cost and burden of owning, managing or supporting technology. GoBeyondIT recently announced the availability of the Hosted Hourly Desktop, a fully hosted Microsoft Desktop solution available at tiered pricing based on usage.


"We are very excited to begin working with Force 3 and GoBeyondIT because both companies bring innovative products and ideas to the market," says Abel Communications President Greg Abel. "With Force 3, it's an honor to support a business of their size, scope and reputation. GoBeyondIT has also distinguished itself as a technology thought leader that isn't afraid to take chances and shake up the status quo."

Source: Abel Communications
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Canton-based R2integrated has begun expanding its operations to other cities, including Seattle and St. Louis following a bang up year during which revenue increased by some 60 percent.

"We're attributing most of that growth to the fact that a lot of companies, particularly during economic down times, are seeking more creative and cost effective marketing approaches through the Internet, Internet technology and active tech services," says Matthew Pugh, R2i's director of communications .

R2i, bouyed by that trend, has seen not only a substantial increase in revenue, but also large engagement with more substantial brands such as Yamaha, Forbes, Black and Decker, Heineken, Coca-Cola, Pella, and Ford. The company was also one of 10 vendors selected for Microsoft's digital marketing campaigns.

"Though the Seattle office is not exclusively to serve Microsoft, that is why we entered the market there and it is our full intention to become engaged with the community there," explains Pugh.

Pugh credits R2i's success to the company's technology development expertise. "Even the best creative technology in the world is only as good as the technology that sits underneath it."

R2i provides the platforms that enable companies to more quickly and easily distribute critical communications, leverage social media and social networks, and implement rich internet applications. R2i technology enables companies to create and manage the dynamic media and social interactions that drive brand value and sales in the age of peer-to-peer communications. They have helped the world's largest corporations improve their customer communications and relationships, by providing them internet marketing systems that provide direct, compelling interaction with their customers.

The firm is currently hiring for its local and New York offices. "We're looking for system development people in New York and we're always looking for additional web designers, programmers and digital account execs, search specialists and positions like that locally," says Pugh.

A recent survey, conducted by R2i found that while mobile marketing is recognized as an integral component of digital marketing strategies in 2010, uncertainty looms over its return on investment. R2i conducted this survey from January 13 � January 25.

Twenty two percent of survey respondents said that mobile marketing is "very important" to their overall marketing strategy for 2010; 26 percent said "important"; and 28 percent said "somewhat important." Only 8 percent said "not important." The majority of respondents, 41 percent, said their main reason for executing a mobile marketing campaign was "company awareness," followed by "lead generation," 33 percent.

Quantifying the return on investment was considered the most critical area of improvement for planned mobile marketing campaigns among respondents at 43 percent. Forty nine percent said an increase in customers would measure a successful campaign.

"It appears that 2010 will be a year of experimentation and education on mobile marketing as marketers struggle to come to terms with its practicality and ROI," says Matt Goddard, co-founder and CEO, R2i. "This shouldn't suggest that marketers ought to table their mobile marketing plans, but that they should pay considerable attention to how they can connect the dots back to driving revenue."

The biggest impediments to executing a mobile marketing campaign were "not knowing how to develop the business case," 32 percent, and "not enough analytics to measure the ROI," 30 percent. Sixty three percent of respondents said they'd only allocate up to 15 percent of their budgets on mobile marketing.

More than half (52 percent) of respondents said that their mobile marketing campaign would focus on mobile Web site development channel, while 40 percent said they would focus on mobile application development. When asked to rate the importance of mobile platforms, 59 percent of respondents said the iPhone and 40 percent said the BlackBerry were "very important"; only seven percent thought that Android was a "very important" platform.

"I think because the technology is still working to fully prove itself, most marketers are playing it safe by focusing on the mobile browsing experience, where they can leverage existing Web assets, rather than on mobile marketing where the ROI proposition is still being evaluated," says Goddard. "The iPhone still reflects the largest base for marketers to sell into even though the Android may be the platform du jour in terms of hype.

Source: Matthew Pugh, R2integrated
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Starting in February 2010, the Carey Business School will begin offering an exciting new technology commercialization program, it has dubbed Innovate!, at the Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus.

Innovate!, which is funded by a National Science Foundation grant to The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is a 12-month program led by successful serial entrepreneurs that will take a class of 15 business professionals and 15 postdocs through evaluation of a technology's commercial viability, preparation of a business case based on the technology, and launch of the business. The businesses will be based on technology from NIH, Johns Hopkins University, the University System of Maryland, and other research institutions and federal agencies.

"The Innovate! program is perfect for professionals who have thought about starting their own technology company and are looking for a supportive, structured environment to help make it happen," says Yash Gupta, dean, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

"We're extremely excited to have the Innovate! program on our campus because it fits so well with the County's economic development goals," says Elaine Amir, executive director, Johns Hopkins Montgomery County. "The County recently released its Biosciences Task Force report, and one of the reports five key objectives was to 'enhance the environment for entrepreneurship and the creation of new life sciences companies.' It's great that Johns Hopkins can help advance that goal."

The Innovate! program is based on the highly successful ACTiVATE® program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, which has led to the formation of more than 25 companies since its inception in 2005.

Partners for the Innovate! program include Rockville Economic Development, the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, and the National Institutes of Health.

Source: Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Prognosys LLC, a company developing rapid, multiplexed diagnostics for multiple diseases, has joined the University of Maryland's Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incubator.

One of the company's first products, supported by a $100K phase 1 contract from the National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is a test for multiple cardiovascular diseases built on Prognosys' proprietary barcode platform.

The product is designed to rapidly and economically diagnose patients with acute cardiovascular diseases in emergency rooms, enabling physicians to make quick decisions based upon whether a patient tests for acute vascular clots, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, or potentially acute coronary syndrome.

"When a person goes to a hospital with chest pain, the triage nurse or physician may initially have no idea what a patient has," says Kenneth Gabriel, president of Prognosys. "A blood sample is taken and shipped to the lab, where technicians work to process samples, but some tests can take up to two days for results, and in some cases patients die. Our test can be done in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, with results in as little as ten minutes."

Prognosys' patent-pending technology involves embedding multiple sensors on a barcode that react to certain indicators and show results when scanned with a standard bar code reader. Results are then sent through the company's software to a Web-based portal accessible by nurses and physicians or to a handheld device.

Prognosys plans to expand its barcode sensors to additional medical and other markets. The company's barcodes can be equipped with biological, chemical, physical and intelligence-gathering related sensors, as well as tracking devices and medical monitors, according to Gabriel.

"We can test for substances such as cocaine," says Gabriel. "We can test for temperature, radiation, humidity, pressure, vibration, and lethal substances such as anthrax. Prognosys' researchers are also working on quantitative as well as qualitative tests that don't just tell you when a substance is present; they also measure how much of it is there. This type of test is critical for monitoring the progress of disease and general treatment."

A privately funded company, Prognosys was founded in February 2007, by Gabriel and Dr. Marc H. Cohen. Dr. Gabriel is affiliated with the A. James Clark School of Engineering's department of electrical and computer engineering and an adjunct faculty member in the Robert H. Smith School of Business's department of management and organization.

Prognosys Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Marc Cohen is an assistant research scientist in the Institute for Systems Research in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland.

Prognosys' technology was developed outside of the university.

Gabriel and Cohen relocated Prognosys to the University of Maryland to collaborate with its world-class faculty and student researchers.

"We liked the fact that it is co-located with bright people," says Gabriel. "It's not just the talent but the diversity of talent�people in engineering, biomedical applications, and environmental health. Working with people in these fields increases the chances our proposals will be winning ones, which translates to faster diagnostics for medical and other industries."

"Our tests buy physicians time and in some cases buy patients life," says Gabriel.

Source: Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute
Writer: Walaika Haskins